Yankees deal for outfielder Hicks from Twins

BOCA RATON, Florida — New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman followed through on his vow to aggressively transform his team this off-season, acquiring switch-hitting outfielder Aaron Hicks from Minnesota for catcher John Ryan Murphy on Wednesday and dealing infielder Jose Pirela to San Diego for a minor league pitcher.

The 26-year-old Hicks takes the roster spot of Chris Young, who became a free agent, and the move could be a precursor to trading all-star Brett Gardner. The 14th overall pick in the 2008 amateur draft, Hicks hit .256 with 11 homers and 33 RBIs in 97 games for the Twins this year, including .307 with six homers and 11 RBIs in 101 at-bats against left-handers.

“A young, exciting talent,” Cashman said after making the first two deals of the annual GM meetings. “We think he’s an everyday player. ... At the very least, he provides us what we were getting from Chris Young the last two years, and at the very most he provides us a lot of flexibility depending on how the winter transpires.”

New York thought Hicks was helped this year by tutoring from Minnesota outfielder Torii Hunter, a five-time all-star who retired after the season.

Hicks is part of the Yankees’ movement for a more athletic roster.

“I wasn’t going to trade John Ryan Murphy for an old guy,” Cashman said,

Murphy, 24, was Brian McCann’s backup this year and batted .277 with three homers and 14 RBIs in 67 games. He looked ready to assume a starting role elsewhere, and New York considered itself deep at catcher, with Austin Romine and touted prospect Gary Sanchez in the minors.

“We know he’s got power and he can throw and he’s a pretty good defensive catcher,” Twins assistant general manager Rob Antony said. “We think he has all the skills and the traits to be a major league starting catcher.”

Minnesota expects Murphy to share time at first with Kurt Suzuki, the starting catcher the past two seasons.